< < Back to News

Citizens ask tough questions of congressional candidates during town hall forum

Harry Teague and Ed Tinsley address nuclear proliferation, bailouts, and drilling rights

Las Cruces, NM, October 10, 2008-- Southern New Mexico voters stepped up to ask their congressional candidates important questions about a wide range of issues – from drilling in  Otero county to children’s healthcare to the war on terror. 

The televised event came on the heels of a half-day town hall in which 40 southern New Mexico voters chose to focus primarily on healthcare, foreign policy, economic issues, and energy. Over the course of the afternoon, the group developed over 70 questions for candidates to address. Of those, about a dozen were answered on the air by the candidates. Republican Ed Tinsley and Democrat Harry Teague are urged to address the remaining questions in other debates, in media interviews, and on their candidate websites.

The project, organized by New Mexico First and the New Mexico Public Broadcasters, was the first of three Congressional Town Halls taking place in each of the state’s congressional districts.

“The voters in the town hall worked hard – across party lines – to identify smart, policy-focused questions for their candidates,” said Heather Balas, president of New Mexico First.  “These issues represent real concerns of real people – and they don’t necessarily mirror the common themes in campaign ads or the news. That is one reason that voter-driven forums like this one are so important.”

The event was broadcast on all three of the state’s public television stations and several public radio stations, reaching all corners of the state.

“This project is the broadest collaboration of public broadcasters in New Mexico’s history,” said Glen Cerny, broadcasting director of KRWG and executive producer of the three congressional forums. “We are proud to enable New Mexicans from Farmington to Jal – and all points between – to learn about the candidates.”

 Upcoming Congressional Town Halls

  • Northern New Mexico Town Hall (3rd Congressional District); candidates Dan East, Ben Ray Lujan, and Carol Miller; airs Thursday, October 16 at 7 pm
  • Albuquerque Town Hall (1st Congressional District); candidates Martin Heinrich and Darren White; airs Thursday, October 23 at 7 pm

LAS CRUCES TOWN HALL QUESTIONS
 National Defense/Foreign Policy

  1. What specific ways can our federal government learn from our past experiences to better solve nuclear proliferation and terrorism?
  2. Where do you feel the primary front of the war on terror is, or should be, and how do you feel we should address it?
  3. When should we get involved in military confrontations, and when should we not?
  4. How do you feel about existing foreign aid policies?
  5. Please explain your position on how long troops should remain in Iraq.
  6. If you had free range, what would you do differently when it comes to our nation’s foreign policy?
  7. What would be your priorities in foreign policy?
  8. What would you do to support our military installations here in southern New Mexico?
  9. In light of today’s economy, what priority would you place on the future defense budget?
  10. When there are attacks against U.S. citizens abroad how should we react?
  11. How important do you feel that installations, particularly Guantanamo Bay, are to our national defense?
  12. What would be your position if Iran developed nuclear weapons?
  13. How might our nation interact with Iran to prevent their desire to develop nuclear weapons?
  14. How can we interact with other countries to help stop nuclear proliferation?
  15. What steps would you take to prevent other countries from developing nuclear weapons and disarming countries that currently have nuclear weapons? 
  16. What steps could we take to help the United Nations promote world peace?

Workforce/Poverty/Economy

  1. What role should the federal government play in aiding workforce development and poverty reduction in southern New Mexico?
  2.  As successful businessmen, what are some of the economic principles, ideas and policies that you will take from your businesses and implement in Congress?
  3. What specific measures or steps are needed to stabilize and grow our economy?
  4. What federal spending do you feel should be cut in light of the deficit and financial crisis?
  5. To what extent should the federal government regulate CEO compensation packages?
  6. What is your position regarding the bailout of banks and other financial institutions?
  7. What can be done to address the needs of those New Mexicans below the poverty level?  
  8. How could you help the three most vulnerable groups: children, the working poor and senior citizens?
  9. Today the Secretary of the Treasury announced loans to banks, in exchange for equity positions in those banks; how do you feel that policy would help solve the financial crisis? 
  10. How would you help in attracting higher paying jobs to New Mexico?  How do you rank Spaceport America in this regard?
  11. In your opinion, how has illegal immigration affected the economy in New Mexico? 
  12. How can the public airwaves be used to educate the public about those things that are important, like our economy?
  13. How could we make the political system more affordable to the average citizen to run for elected office?

Healthcare Questions

  1. What is your position on including all Americans on the same healthcare system that  Congress is on?
  2. What is your position on Medicare Part D program which does not allow price negotiations with pharmaceutical companies and how might you change it?
  3. What is your view on SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program)  and do you feel the program should be expanded?
  4. In light of recent publicized shortcomings of our VA hospitals, what proposals if any, would you make to improve veterans healthcare?
  5. Please explain your position on the current free market healthcare system, and is it an appropriate role for government to ensure healthcare availability to everyone?
  6. As Congressman, how would you guarantee those with chronic illness would have affordable healthcare?
  7. What are your ideas for improving the healthcare system to address rising costs and lack of healthcare coverage and insurance?
  8. How would you attract physicians to the state of New Mexico?
  9. How would you increase the number of individuals covered by health insurance in the state?
  10. How could you as a congressman help citizens in rural areas get adequate access/ transportation to treatment?
  11. How would you make healthcare insurance available to all children in New Mexico? 
  12. What would be your position in putting a higher priority on prevention vs. treatment of illness? 
  13. Who should pay for healthcare in New Mexico, employers, state government, federal government, or individuals?
  14. What is your position regarding stem cell research and other new developments and why?
  15. What is your position on the recent cutbacks on Medicare and Medicaid coverage?
  16. What is your position on universal healthcare?

Energy/Environment

  1. What proposals do you have to keep energy prices at affordable levels so the economy can continue to function?
  2. How would you encourage renewable energy development to create jobs in southern New Mexico?
  3. As a Congressman, how would you vote on domestic drilling in southeastern New Mexico knowing that your vote could very easily eliminate or create New Mexico jobs?
  4. What is your position on drilling for oil or gas on the Otero Mesa?
  5. What are your plans to reduce oil dependency and what are your specific alternate energy sources?
  6. What is your position on drilling on the Otero Mesa?
  7. What is your position on drilling on ANWR?
  8. What is your position on expanding exploration for new sources of fossil fuels within the U.S.?
  9. What are the best alternatives for New Mexico in developing alternative sources of energy?
  10. What is your position on providing incentives (earmarks) for companies to explore and develop alternative technologies for energy?
  11. What is your position on nuclear energy?
  12. Some people are concerned about the environmental impact of the border fence project, what is your opinion about that?  
  13. In light of our dependence on fossil fuels and concerns about global warming, would you discuss your position on developing alternative sources of energy?  
  14. What is your position on cyclical climate change as opposed to man-made global warming?
  15. What are your ideas for increasing our energy resources and lowering the cost?
  16. What is your position on the use of taxes or tax incentives for companies and individuals to be more energy efficient?
  17. How can we influence countries like China to be more environmentally sound?

Open Topics

  1. What would be your policy regarding goods and people moving freely across our borders?
  2. What would you do to reduce the influence of big money interests on Washington?
  3. What role should the federal government play in enabling access to high speed internet for all New Mexicans?
  4. What is your view on the current tax structure?  If elected, would you propose any changes?
  5. How would you ensure fairness to all taxpayers?
  6. Senior citizens often must choose to buy food or gasoline or to heat and cool their homes.  How could you work to provide additional nutritional assistance federally?
  7. What is your position on providing healthcare and education benefits to illegal immigrants?
  8. What are your concerns about illegal immigration and its effects on the United States?
  9. What is your position regarding No Child Left Behind?
  10. How would you promote early childhood education? 
  11. How can we focus better on providing education and healthcare for our young children?
  12. How can we make college more affordable for a greater number of students?